Means for observing combustion in internal-combustion engines



v H- CHAPMAN. MEANS FOR OBSERVING COMBUSTION IN INTERNALCOMBUSTION'ENGINES.

' APPLICATION FILED mum. I921- L w Pmnm m. 311, 192% CIT nannv cnariiiaiv, or si-rnrrintn, ENGLAND.

MEA NS FOR OBSERVING COMBUSTION IN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed June 7, 1921. Serial No. 475,790.

T call to have it may com com Be it known that I, HARRY CHAPMAN, a subject of the King of'larreat Britain and Ireland, residing at 34. Meersbrook Road, city of Sheflield, county of York, England, have invented certain new and. useful Im provements in or rel ting to the Means for Observing Combustion in Internal-Com- -lOllSlllll Engines, of which the following the accompanying drawing.

is a specification, reference being had to This invention relates to the method and means for making visible the combustion of explosive mixtures or other. fuel in internal combustion engines.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved method and means for making visible the said combustion. A device made in accordance withthis invention comprises one or more pieces of transparent or partly transparent materials which may be of the form of lenses and of such shape or form as will withstand heat or pressure and one or more reflectors suitably disposed in a convenient position with regard to the engine.

The device may be disposed in a tube preferably in the form of a T or may be so disposed in the T piece that the sparking plug may be fixed on one ofthe openings of the l piece. One or more lenses may be di posed in the other end of the T piece. Means may be provided to allow for expansion and contraction. of the lenses said means may comprise packing of asbestos or othersuit able material forming a gas-tight joint around one or more of the lenses and render it less liable to fracture. Two or more of the lenses may be disposed to form air tight or gas-tight or fluid tigl'it chambers which may be made to contain air, gas or other suitable fluid under compression adapted to oppose the combustion pressure in the cylinder. The reflectors and lenses of the device may be so disposed that the observer may observe the explosion indirectly, or so as to protect the eyes of the observer in the event of a reflector or lens fracturing, and a safety automatic shutter may Means Fig. 1 shows a sectional elevation of one form of device made in accordance with thisinvention disposed on a sparking plug;

Flg. 2 is a plan of the exterior of the device and attachment as shown in Fig. l with the sparking plug removed;

Fig. 3 shows a sectional elevation of one form of pressure resisting chamber.

A. T piece a is adapted to receive a sparlc ing plug 6 and is provided with a threaded portion 0 which may be screwed into any convenient place on the cylinders. Into one arm of the T piece is inserted a plug (Z and intoqthe other arm is screwed a tubular member 0 carrying a bullseye lens f which is held in position by a screwed nipple or looking ring g. l i

Asbestos,packin provided to form a gas tight joint. (damped to the tubular member 6 by means of a split lug j and screw 71: is a tubular casing 11?. having an eye piece a in which is disposed a lens 0 held in position by a locking ring 79. Asbestos packing 1 is provided. Slidably mounted in a tubular casing m is a cylindrical member 1 held in its forward position by means of a spring 8, said cylindrical member 7* is held from rotating by a screw to moving in a slot c which allows for a sliding movement. A reflector w is mounted in the cylindrical member at an angle of about 45 in order to reflect through the lens 0, the light re-,

ceived from the lens f.

The cylindrical member 7' in its normal position covers the outlet '2" but in case of the lens breaking by explosion or from any other cause the pressure will force the cylin drical member "rbackward against the action of the spring 8 and allow the explosive gases to escape through the outlet lif desired the cylindrical member may be dispensed with and the reflector suitably attached to the interior of the tubular casing in such amannor as to allow the outlet '1" to become uncovered in case of the lens or reflector fracturing.

In a modified form of device made in accordance with this invention as shown in Fig. 3 for the member 6 is substituted a tubular member 0 adapted to be screwed into one arm of the 'l" piece. The member 6 carries bulls-eye lenses f, which are held in position by locking rings g, g asbestos packing 7b, 71. being provided to form airtight oints. The tubular member c has an opening a, its mouth being internally screwthreaded at y adapted to receive a tube a forming aninlet whereby the air, or fluid is introduced under pressure a suitable valve for retaining same being provided.

The tubular casing mmay be clamped to the tubular member 6 in a similar manner as shoWn in Fig. 1.

In operation when the device above described is fitted to an internalcombustion engine in a suitable position, the electric spark may be seen on looking through the lens and turning the engine round before turning on the explosive mixture.

When running the engine under its own power the flame of the explosion can be seen on looking through the lens and the strength ofvqual-ity of'the explosive gases judged by noting the colour of the flame.

Claims 1. Means for making visible the combustion of fuel 'in 'internail combustion engines, comprising a passage forming member havconnected to the engine cylinder of acombustion engine and directed towards the ignition point, a piece of transparent material secured gastight in the passage,- one of said openings forming an eye-piece, a piece of transparent materialsecured'in said eye-piece, a reflector located in the passage to reflect llght from the igniting point towards the eye-piece, and means for-uncovering the otherof said openings in case of escape of combustion gases along the passage.

2. Means for making visible the combustion of fuel in internal combustion engines. comprising a, sparking plug, a passage forming member having a pair-of openings,

said member being connected to said sparking plug and directed towards the sparking mg a pair of openings, said member being points thereof, a piece of transparent material'secured in the passage, one of said openings constituting an eyepiece, a piece of transparent material secured in said eyepiece, a reflector located in the passage to reflect the light from the sparking points towards the said eye-piece, and means for uncovering the other of said openings in case of an escape of combustion gases down the passage.

3. Means for making visible the combustion of fuel in internal combustion engines, comprising a. sparking plug. a passage forming member connected to said sparking plug and directed towards the sparking points thereof, said member having a plurality of openings, two pieces of transparent material secured in the passage, one of said openings being ])1 ")\i(i0(l in the L de of the passage between said pieces of transparent material, another of said openings constituting an inlet arranged lustww-n said pieces of transparent material, a valve disposed in said. inlet, another of said openings in the side of the passage constituting an eye-piece, a piece of transparent matorial secured in said eyepiece. a reliector located in the passage to reflect the light from the sparking points toward said eyepiece, and another of said outlet openings for gases being provided in the side of the. passage, and means for uncovering said last-mentioned opening in case of an escape of combustion gases down the passage.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

H. Cl'l APM A N.

Witnesses Bmnmnn E. DRURY. ENson D. Damn. 

